Organization to Provide Highest Payouts and Prizes for Western Anglers
SAN CLEMENTE–– WON BASS, a division of Western Outdoor News and the longest-running Western bass fishing tournament circuit, has announced new partnerships for the 2024 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events, increased prizes and more incentives for its participants.
In 2024 the WON Bass Western Opens Series will include five Pro-Am style events that will be held in California, Nevada and Arizona, and each event will feature a prize boat to the pro winner. Along with the increase in prize boats, the four regional events will also feature automatic berths for Pro and AAA competitors to compete in the 2025 Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Championship event.
In a new partnership with B.A.S.S., the top five anglers in each of the four regional Pro and AAA events and the top five anglers in the WON Bass Angler of the Year standings after the five events will receive berths into the 2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. At that B.A.S.S. Nation Championship tournament, three anglers will receive berths into the 2026 Bassmaster Classic.
In addition to the 25 BASS nation entries, the top five Pros in the 2024 WON BASS Angler of the Year standings will receive priority entry codes to the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens EQ’s, guaranteeing their position into all nine Bassmaster Opens for a chance to qualify for the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series.
To be eligible, each angler will be required to be a current member of WON BASS and B.A.S.S Nation and not currently competing in the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series, MLF Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals or the National Professional Fishing League (NPFL).
WON BASS Tournament Director Bill Egan said that he is proud to announce these new partnerships.
“Being able to offer our anglers new prizes and opportunities is something we take very seriously at WON BASS,” said Egan. “We are excited to introduce the new partnership with Bassmaster. They are the premier organization in our industry and their faith in WON BASS and investment in the Western angler is something we are humbled and proud to announce.”
Egan also said that he is grateful for the support from both the industry and the anglers who helped make these announcements a possibility.
“We have and have had tremendous partnerships with companies that have helped WON BASS grow the Western Open Series to the level it is at today. The support of the industry and the anglers who make up our fields are the reason we continue to grow, and we are grateful for it all and looking forward to growing with these new partners into the future.”
“We’re excited to enter into a partnership with such a historic organization, and look forward to working together to create more opportunities for western anglers,” said GL Compton, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager.
The 2024 WON BASS Western Opens Series of events will consist of five events, culminating with the 2024 WON BASS U.S. Open.
Jan. 31–Feb. 2, Lake Shasta
April 17-19, Clear Lake
May 15-17, Lake Havasu
Sept. 18-20, Lake Mead
Oct. 14-16, U.S. Open at Lake Mohave
All WON BASS 2024 events will be AOY qualifying events. All 4 regional events will graduate the top 5 Pro’s and Top 5 AAA’s from each event, as long as anglers are 2024 WON BASS and B.A.S.S. Nation members prior to that event start date. (BNSM = Bass Nation State Member)
Shasta Lake Open Jan 31 – Feb 2 – AOY Event – 200 Boat Max
• 30 BNSM Spots Reserved until 12/29/23 – WA/ID/MT
• Top 5 Pro/AAA qualified field anglers go to 2025 BN Championship
Clear Lake Open April 17 – April 19 – AOY Event – 200 Boat Max
• 30 BNSM Spots Reserved until 3/1/24 – CA/OR/WY
• Top 5 Pro/AAA qualified field anglers go to 2025 BN Championship
Lake Havasu Open May 15 – May 17 – AOY Event – 200 Boat Max
• 30 BNSM Spots Reserved until 4/5/24 – AZ/NV/UT
• Top 5 Pro/AAA qualified field anglers go to 2025 BN Championship
Lake Mead Open Sept 18 – Sept 20 – AOY Event – 200 Boat Max
• Bass Nation Member Wildcard Event – No Held Spots
• Top 5 Pro/AAA qualified field anglers go to 2025 BN Championship
U.S. Open Lake Mohave Oct 14 – Oct 16 – AOY Event – 250 Boat Max
• Top 5 Pro/AAA AOY’s awarded after the conclusion of the 2024 U.S. Open advance to 2025 BNC
• Top 5 2024 AOY Pro’s receive priority entry codes into the 2025 B.A.S.S. EQ Qualifiers.
• If any one person wins a birth in multiple events, then the next qualifying angler in that second event would advance to the 2025 Bass National Championship.
• If a member of the Top 5 at any regional event, is NOT qualified to receive the invite, the next qualifying angler would receive the invite.
• If the Top 5 AOY anglers after 5 events are already qualified to go to the Bass National Championship, then we will go down the line of AOY to invite a total of 5 on each side.
• Overall, 25 Pro’s and 25 AAA’s will qualify from the 2024 WON BASS season to go to the 2025 Bass Nation Championship entry fee free! The
Bass Nation State Member Reserved spot – Procedure
• Total boat counts at all WON BASS Regional events will be capped at 200 boats.
• Our shopping cart for each event that have reserved spots (Shasta, Clear Lake, Havasu) will be limited to 170 spots until the date listed above for State members to get in.
• If we sell out the other 170 in advance of that event reserved date, we will contact those State Presidents and notify them that we need their anglers to commit earlier to free up any remaining available spots to cap that event at 200.
• The State members need to register with a deposit by the determined reserved date for each event or sooner by calling in ONLY at 949-366-0248
For complete details, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com and tune in to WON BASS and Western Outdoor News’ social media platforms on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 6:00 p.m. PST to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.
